Body shape
Distinguished by a box-like (cube-shaped) body.
Sea Wasp
Box jellyfish are cube-shaped cnidarian invertebrates, with some species producing potent venom that can cause painful or sometimes fatal stings to humans.
Box jellyfishCubozoa
Last Updated Mar 9, 2026 ·
Species Guide
What to know about sea wasps
A clean field guide focused on habitat, identification, behavior, and conservation context without burying the useful parts.
Box jellyfish (class Cubozoa) are cnidarian invertebrates distinguished by a box-like (cube-shaped) body. Some species produce potent venom delivered by contact with their tentacles. Stings from some species, including Chironex fleckeri, Carukia barnesi, and Malo kingi, are described as extremely painful and often fatal to humans. Other species, such as Carybdea murrayana, can produce a painful sting that is not fatal to humans.
The strongest linked planning options currently surface around destinations such as Cape Town, Costa Blanca: Denia and Xabia/Javea and countries such as South Africa, Spain for divers building trips around sea wasps.
Identification
How to identify sea wasps
The visual markers divers can use underwater, plus the species most likely to cause confusion.
Key identification markers
Venomous tentacles
Some species have tentacles that deliver potent venom on contact.
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